Single-handle high volume tub filler

ABSTRACT

A cup-shaped recess has four circularly arrayed ports, hot and cold inlet ports on opposite sides and two outlet ports in quadrature relationship. A valve post projects from and registers with the four ports. The post provides laterally opening hot and cold water openings at its outer end controlled by a cylindrical valve member, and at its outer end a pair of slots. The post has large passages establishing the requisite communication between the four ports, the hot and cold water valve-controlled openings and the slots.

United States Patent Lyon 14 1 Dec. 19, 1972 [54] SINGLE-HANDLE HIGHVOLUME TUB FILLER [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Price-Pfister Pacoima, Calif.

22] Filed: 11111629, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 50,776

John K. Lyon, Pasadena, Calif.

Brass Mfg. Co.,

[52] [1.8. CI ..l37/625.41 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6k 11/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..l37/625.4l, 625.48, 625.42,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,056 4/l956 Williams..l37/625.68 3,10S,5 l9 10/1963 Fraser ....l37/625.l7 3,4l5,280 10/1968Bucknell et al... ..l37/625.l7 3,l89,048 6/1965 Parker et al. ..'l37/625.4l X

3,417,783 l2/l968 Manoogian 6:31 ..l37/625.4l 2,845,948 8/1958 Parker..l37/625.4l x 2,911,008 11/1959 DUBOlS.... ..l37/625.41 x 3,192,9397/1965 MOell ..l37/625.4l x 3,269,413 8/1966 Weaver... ..137/625.41 x3,472,484 10/1969 Parker ..l37/625.4l x 3,548,875 12/1970 1361mm..137/625.41 x

Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Att0rneyFlam and Flam [57] ABSTRACT Acup-shaped recess has four circularly arrayed ports, hot and cold inletports on opposite sides and two 0utlet ports in quadrature relationship.A valve post projects from and registers with the four ports. The postprovides laterally opening hot and cold water openings at its outer endcontrolled by a cylindrical valve member, and at its outer end a pair ofslots. The post has large passages establishing the requisitecommunication between the four ports, the hot and cold watervalve-controlled openings and the slots.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIED nu: 19 I972 vSHEET 1 OF 3 SHEET 2BF 3 Y I I 'III'IIIf'IAIIUZIII A ll-wllwlfll gL g5 146.6

e m N JE 50 N 3 1 Aw a w w o o f a 0 5 2 M. 00 000 000 00 M 0 000 000 00 0%0 0 0 0 0 0 0%0 0 "a f PATENTED DEC 19 1972 SHEET 3 OF 3 D/vavroe(Jay/v16 I #a/v SINGLE-HANDLE HIGH VOLUME TUB FILLER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to single handled mixingvalves andparticularly to a mixing valve unit for remote control of water emittedby a shower head or tub spout.

A wide variety of such mixing valves now exist. Very few are capable ofproducing high flow rates of 7- to 8 gallons per minute, and those thatdo are usually quite bulky and expensive. In a typical prior art mixingvalve, the inlets and outlets are formed by small circular openings, theoutlet being located centrally or generally between the inlets. Theducting arrangement through the valve and to the outlet is necessarilysmall and tightly convoluted, resulting in substantial throttling.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact,balanced mixing valve capable of producing a high flow rate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing object is accomplished byusing a port arrangement in which two later merging outlet openings arelocated in quadrature relationship'to the hot and cold water inletports, the ports being arrayed circularly. A valve post providespassages extending from the ports. The port provides two outwardlyfacing openings on opposite sides for hot and cold water respectively.An annular mixing chamber is defined between the valve'post and a casingpart. The post provides large slots communicating with the two outletports. An operating handle carries a sleeve that controls the hot andcold water openings. A simple vented recess arrangement providespressure balance.'All of the passages are located peripherally ratherthan centrally of the valve post and hence the passages can be large.There are no significant flow restrictions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of theinvention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.These drawings, unless described as diagrammatic or unless otherwiseindicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a mixing valve incorporating thepresent invention, the valve post being shown in elevation.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view taken along a plane corresponding toline 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a plane correspondingto line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the mechanism for determining limitsto the angular movement of the valve member.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4of FIG. I, a portion of the apparatus being broken away to show thebottom of the valve post.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the valve structure, withthe valve member shown in open position.

FIG. 6 is an offset sectional view taken along a plane corresponding toline6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 7-7of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cylindrical development of the valve member and showing thelocation of its openings.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken alongplanes corresponding respectively to lines 9-9 and 10-10 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is an exploded pictorial view of the components of the valvestructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description is of the bestpresently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. Thisdescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventionsince the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The valve structure includes two castings 10 and 1 2 detachably clampedtogether. One of the castings 10 is installed in the wall and isdesigned to connect with supply pipes and pipes to the tub spout and/orshower head. The casting 10 provides an outwardly facing, flat, circularmounting surface 14.

The companion casting 12 is generally of cup shape. The outer surface 16of the bottom wall 18 of the cup is placed against the mounting surface14. The castings have flanges clamped together by screws 20. Aprotective cap can be placed over the surface 14 when the roughing-in isin progress. At a later stage in construction, the cap may be removedand the casting l2 affixed in place. 1

Opening on opposite sides of the mounting surface 14 (FIG. 7) are hotand cold water orifices or inlets 22 and 24 (see also FIG. 2). Fluidfrom the orifices 22 and 24 is controlled by a valve in the casting 12.The controlled fluid returns to top and bottom outlet orifices 26 and 28(see also FIG. 1) in the mounting surface 14. These orifices 26 and 28lead to a common chamber 30 in the casting 10. The chamber 30communicates with a tub spout or shower head under the control of asuitable diverter valve, all in a conventional manner.

The finish casting 12 has a cylindrical part 32 projecting outwardlyfrom the wall 18. The part 32 forms a mixing chamber 34.

The hot and cold water inlets 22 and 24 communicate withvalve-controlled openings 36 and 38 (FIGS. 5 and 9) located ondiametrically opposite sides of a valve post 40. The valve post 40extends outwardly from the wall 18 and is secured thereto by the aid ofa pairof countersunk screws 42 and 44 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 10). The valvepost has an angled hot water passage 46 (FIG. 5). This passage has alarge arcuate cross-sectional area for a large flow rate (FIGS. 9, l0and 11). The end wall 18 of the casting 12 has an arcuate aperture48thatestablishes communication between the inlet 22-and'the angledpassage 46. A sealing O-ring 50 (see also FIG. 4) is accommodated in acounterbore surrounding the end of the angled passage 46. The transverseend of this passage is circular. A similar angled cold water passage 52(FIG. 5) on the opposite side of the valve post 40 establishescommunication between the cold water inlet 24 and the valve-controlledopening 38.

The openings 36 and 38 are defined by hat-shaped seat members 54 and 56.The seat members 54 and 56 have generally tubular parts extendingaxially into the circular transverse ends of the passages 46 and 52, andhave radially outwardly extending flanges overlying the valve post 40.

Communication between the openings 36 and 38 and the valve chamber 34 iscontrolled by a valve member 58. The operative element of the valvemember is a cylindrical part 60 that telescopes over the valve post 40and the seat members 54 and 56. O-rings 62 and 64 fit the seat members54 and 56 and provide suitable seals.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical valve part 60 has two sets ofperforations 66 and 68, one for the hot water opening 36 and the otherfor the cold water opening 38. The axial span of the sets is slightlygreater than that of the openings 36 and 38. When the valve member 58 ispulled to its outer limit as shown in FIGS. and 6, the sets ofperforations are axially aligned with the openings for maximum flow. Inthis axial position, both valve post openings 36 and 38 may be fullyopen due to the arcuate span of the perforation sets. This neutral, fullON position is shown in FIG. 5. Upon angular movement of the valvemember 58 in one direction, as indicated by the arrow 70, the ofperforations 66 for the hot opening moves out of registry with the valvepost opening 36 while the full registry yet exists for the cold opening.Maximum flow is achieved as the mixture becomes cooler due to throttlingaction of the hot water opening. Correspondingly, upon move ment of thevalve member in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow 72,the mix becomes hotter due only to throttling of the cold water opening.Combined flow is reduced by inward axial movement of the valve member.

The valve member is connected to an operating stem 74 by a spider orwall 76. The inner end of the stem 74 fits a recess 78 in the valve post40, and the outer end of the stem 74 projects through a plug 82threadedly fitted to the outer end of the casting 12. An O-ring 84 sealsthe periphery of the plug to the casting 12. .A second O-ring 86 sealsthe plug 82 to the stem 74. v

In order to provide pressure balance, the valve post recess 78 is ventedthrough an axial opening 88 in the stem 74. An O-ring 90, mounted in aninterior annular groove of the valve post 40, seals the stem to thevalve post at the outer end of the post recess 78. A radial port 92 atthe outer end of the stem'vents the recess 78 to atmosphere. Hydraulicforces on the valve member 58 are at all times in balance, and there isno tendency for the valve member to move in either axial direction.

In order to determine the limits to the angular movement of the valvemember, the valve post 40 carries a pin 94 that projects through anarcuate recess 96 in the end wall 76 in the valve member 58.

The mixed water entering the chamber 34 is received in two arcuate slots98 and 100 (FIGS. 6 and 11) at the base of the valve post 40. Thesearcuate slots 98 and 100 are located in quadrature relationship to thehot and cold water inlet passages 46 and 52 and are quite large. Thevalve post has a series of arcuately arrayed apertures 102 (see FIGS.and 11) that connect the slot 98 to correspondingly arcuately arrayedopenings 104 (FIG. 6) in the bottom wall 18 of the casting l2 and thenceto the arcuate outlet opening 26 (FIG. 6) in the casting 10. A similarseries of openings 106 are provided to connect the other slot 100 toarcuately arrayed openings 108 in the bottom wall of the casting l2 andthence to the outlet opening 28 of the casting l0.

By virtue of the peripheral location of the valve.

member, the ports that conduct the hot and cold water to the chamber 34and the ducts that conduct the water from the chamber 34 are all of asubstantial size, and a high volume mixing valve is provided despite itscompact size. 8

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown ordescribed, I make the following claims:

1. In a mixing valve structure:

a. valve casting means for a tub filler, shower head, tub filler/showerhead combination or other remote outlet installation, said casting meanshaving a substantially cup-shaped recess, there being four openings atthe bottom surface of the recess, namely, two substantiallydiametrically located hot and coldwater inlet ports and twosubstantially diametrically located outlet ports, said ports beingsubstantially circularly arrayed;

b. a valve post immovably attached to said casting means and having a'peripheral surface spaced from and thus defining with the inside of saidcup,

a mixing chamber,said valve post being recessed to expose :said outletportsfor direct passage of water thereto from said mixing chamber; and

c. a movable valve member telescoped over said valve post andsurrounding said valve openings, said valve member having openingsregistrable with said valve openings of said post member to controlproportion by angular movement of said valve member and to controlvolume by axial movement of said valve member, said valve member beinginterposed between said post and the said inside of said cup and beingspaced from said inside of said cup, said valve member being movableoutwardly of the post to opensaid valve, said valve member in openposition allowing unrestricted communication between said mixing chamberand the recessed portion of said valve post.

2. The mixing valve as set forth in claim Itogether with an operatingrod connected to said valve member, said operating rod having acylindrical end extending into a recess in said valve post, and having acylindrical part extending through the end wall of said mixing valvechamber,'said cylindrical part and said cylindrical end being of thesame size; first sealing means operative between said recess and saidrod end during axial movement of said rod; second sealing meansoperative between said end wall and said cylindrical part; and a ventextending through said rod to the end thereof and opening on the outsideof the end wall whereby said valve member is hydraulically balanced.

3. In a mixing valve structure:

a. a valve casting for a tub filler, shower head, tub

filler/shower head combination or other remote outlet installation, saidcasting having at least three separate conduits for hot water, coldwater and for mixed hot and cold water;

b. a valve post immovably attached to or forminga part of said castingand having a peripheral surface at which at least three openings arelocated form ing the ends of said conduits;

c. said openings of said valve post being angularly displaced from eachother; and

l060ll M

1. In a mixing valve structure: a. valve casting means for a tub filler,shower head, tub filler/shower head combination or other remote outletinstallation, said casting means having a substantially cupshapedrecess, there being four openings at the bottom surface of the recess,namely, two substantially diametrically located hot and cold water inletports and two substantially diametrically located outlet ports, saidports being substantially circularly arrayed; b. a valve post immovablyattached to said casting means and having a peripheral surface spacedfrom and thus defining with the Inside of said cup, a mixing chamber,said valve post being recessed to expose said outlet ports for directpassage of water thereto from said mixing chamber; and c. a movablevalve member telescoped over said valve post and surrounding said valveopenings, said valve member having openings registrable with said valveopenings of said post member to control proportion by angular movementof said valve member and to control volume by axial movement of saidvalve member, said valve member being interposed between said post andthe said inside of said cup and being spaced from said inside of saidcup, said valve member being movable outwardly of the post to open saidvalve, said valve member in open position allowing unrestrictedcommunication between said mixing chamber and the recessed portion ofsaid valve post.
 2. The mixing valve as set forth in claim 1 togetherwith an operating rod connected to said valve member, said operating rodhaving a cylindrical end extending into a recess in said valve post, andhaving a cylindrical part extending through the end wall of said mixingvalve chamber, said cylindrical part and said cylindrical end being ofthe same size; first sealing means operative between said recess andsaid rod end during axial movement of said rod; second sealing meansoperative between said end wall and said cylindrical part; and a ventextending through said rod to the end thereof and opening on the outsideof the end wall whereby said valve member is hydraulically balanced. 3.In a mixing valve structure: a. a valve casting for a tub filler, showerhead, tub filler/shower head combination or other remote outletinstallation, said casting having at least three separate conduits forhot water, cold water and for mixed hot and cold water; b. a valve postimmovably attached to or forming a part of said casting and having aperipheral surface at which at least three openings are located formingthe ends of said conduits; c. said openings of said valve post beingangularly displaced from each other; and d. a movable valve membertelescoped over said valve post to surround said inlets and and havingopenings registrable with said valve post openings to control proportionby angular movement of said valve member and to control volume by axialmovement of said valve member, said valve member exposing the openingfor said outlet opening when the valve member is in open position.